Two Tools, Two Very Different Jobs
Every clogged drain call starts with the same question: snake it or jet it? Both clear blockages, but they do it in completely different ways — and choosing the wrong one is why some clogs come back every few months.
Snaking: The Right Tool for Simple Clogs
A drain snake (auger) is a flexible cable that bores through a blockage and pulls it out or breaks it up. It’s fast, affordable, and gentle on pipes — the right call for a hair clog in a bathroom sink, a toilet blockage, or a single fixture that backed up suddenly. The limitation: a snake punches a hole through the clog but leaves the buildup on the pipe walls. The drain works again, but the narrowing that caused the clog is still there.
Hydro Jetting: A Power Wash for Your Pipes
Hydro jetting uses water at up to 4,000 PSI through a specialized nozzle that scours the entire pipe wall — grease, sludge, scale, and even tree roots get cut away and flushed out. The pipe goes back to its full diameter, not just “open enough.” That’s why jetting is the answer for recurring clogs, greasy kitchen lines, main sewer lines with root intrusion, and commercial kitchens.
How We Decide (And Why a Camera Comes First)
For recurring or main-line problems we start with a camera inspection. If the line shows heavy grease, roots, or scale in old cast iron, jetting (or descaling for cast iron) fixes the cause. If it’s a one-off soft blockage, a snake does the job for less money — and we’ll tell you that. Jetting a pipe that only needed a $150 snake job isn’t service, it’s upselling.
The Quick Rule of Thumb
First clog in years, one fixture: snake. Same drain clogging repeatedly, multiple slow drains, sewage smells, or gurgling: camera + jet. Either way, you’ll know the price before work starts.
Drain trouble anywhere in Orange County? Delta Plumbing answers evenings and weekends: 714-458-6715, or request service online. Licensed CA #1002045, 5-star rated, 20+ years local.
